DATA COULD SOLVE THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM OF SELECTING THE RIGHT PRODUCT AND SPARE PART FOR AN APPLICATION
Many fleet operators are unaware about the difference between genuine and nongenuine aftermarket parts. Original spare parts guarantee the original or intended performance of the truck. Buying nongenuine parts is a gamble that take a toll on the performance of the vehicle and eventually lead to unplanned downtime due to repairs. High quality is always worth the price and that holds true for original spare parts because the higher price is justified when the life cycle costs of vehicles are calculated accurately and the impact of downtime taken into account.
Fleet management should be a meticulous operation aimed at achieving the maximum uptime for trucks. The choice of tyres, fuels, lubricants and spare parts should be factored into the initial purchasing decision and specification of the truck itself, to enable fleet operators manage their future operating costs with a reasonable degree of certainty.
Data is available everywhere, and fleets with access to more data are likely to be managed well, but it’s up to the fleet manager to decide how to use data. For example, data could solve the fundamental problem of selecting the right product or part for an application. When we work with fleet operators and have access to their operations data, we are able to analyse their procurement requirements based on the intended application of the vehicle. This helps us optimize the truck specifications and maintenance contracts, which helps avoid over-specification and cost escalation.
Maintenance constitutes almost 5–6% of the total cost of ownership of fleets, and poor maintenance can lead to truck failures. By engaging with customers early on in the procurement process, we help control their operating costs with a preventive maintenance plan that ensure the maximum uptime. A thorough preventive maintenance schedule also ensures the availability of spare parts and services with very low downtime. To improve the accessibility of parts and speed of service, we aim to as close to customers as possible by having distributed service and parts centres.